Outdoor Leadership Skills in Action: Imani Mineweaser’s Internship with VAA
by Vicki Heisser |
Outdoor Leadership student Imani Mineweaser has been putting her skills to work this
summer with Valdez Adventure Alliance (VAA), where she is a Program and Event Coordinator
intern working with Executive Director Lanette Oliver.
Her internship has given her a wide look at what goes into running an outdoor recreation
nonprofit.
Imani has worked on trail maintenance, volunteer coordination, event and program planning,
state parks maintenance, communications, reservations and other behind-the-scenes
work.
Much of her fieldwork has been on the Shoup Bay Trail, where VAA is working toward
installing a boardwalk to help protect the wetland. Imani has helped cut back vegetation
along the trail and has also traveled by ferry and kayak to the far end of the trail
near the cabins, using brush cutters to help maintain the area.
She has also helped coordinate volunteers for the trail work, including working with
the Coast Guard to bring volunteers out to help.
At Worthington Glacier and Blueberry Lake, Imani helps keep the parks running throughout
the season. She makes regular trips to the parks to post reservations, take care of
trash and bathrooms, and run the retail shop. She also supports the online reservation
system, responds to visitors, and helps resolve reservation issues.
And then there is the work people don't always see.
Imani helps edit and manage the website, posts information on bulletin boards, communicates
with people about equipment and gear, coordinates with partners and volunteers, and
helps with the many details that go into planning VAA events.
Her internship began in March with the Fat Bike Bash, where she first volunteered
with VAA. That experience let her see how an event comes together, from coordinating
volunteers to setting up and tearing down. Her work there led to her internship with
the organization.
She is also helping prepare for upcoming events, including the Odyssey Race on September
26, 2026 at Thompson Pass, where she will be stationed at a waypoint near the top of Little Odyssey to document
participants reaching the point and help with race logistics.
Imani said her Outdoor Leadership classes, particularly safety and risk management,
have been valuable in her internship. She has applied what she learned about waivers,
volunteer logistics, proper gear, hydration, equipment, and risk mitigation to real-world
situations.
The internship has also given her a lot of independence. Her hours can vary significantly
depending on the season and workload, and 40-hour weeks were common during July and
August.
For Imani, that independence, along with the opportunity to meet people and work outside,
has made the experience especially rewarding.
She plans to continue working with VAA and hopes to return to Valdez each season.
“I am very grateful to have a job that I am satisfied with at the end of each day.
I find it very rewarding and fulfilling,” Imani said.